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Land rezoned to allow for livestock equipment sales business

Vulcan County council approved May 3 a rezoning bylaw that allows the applicant to apply for a permit to run a livestock equipment sales business across the highway from the village of Champion.

Howard Warren had applied to rezone about 1.4 hectares (3.4 acres) to rural commercial from urban fringe. The site is adjacent to Highway 23 and Township Road 150A, across from the village’s south entrance.

At the start of the business, Warren would likely be displaying and selling machinery, and would fence the site, said Ryan Dyck, a planner with the Oldman River Regional Services Commission.

There would not likely be any buildings constructed or significant site alteration at the beginning of the new business, he said.

Warren told council during a public hearing on the rezoning bylaw that he would mostly be displaying new livestock equipment.

Dyck said the location makes the site appealing for commercial development, but the Village does not want an untidy or unorganized site next to the village.

“So it’s critical that a high standard for appearance and organization of the site be imposed on any development permit that may or may not be issued in the future on this site,” he said during the public hearing.

Under the rezoning bylaw, the Municipal Planning Commission would have the ability to require landscaping or screening “where it would serve to improve the quality or compatibility of the development,” he said, adding these conditions can be imposed on a permitted use.

“It is worth noting that the village does not currently have a commercial or industrial site that could accommodate a land intensive development like this,” said Dyck.

He added the Village does have an industrial subdivision, and the lots in that subdivision are between half an acre and one acre.

The proposed use would likely be classified as “farm/industrial machinery sales/ rental and service”, which is a permitted use in the rural commercial district, said Dyck.

Patrick Bergen, the chief administrative officer for the Village of Champion, said during the public hearing that the Village is “quite happy” with the application.

He did mention that the curb appeal of the lot is important to the Village and asked that focus be maintained in the development permit process.

“I think in general we think of that as a real opportunity along Highway 23 as a commercial corridor,” he said.

Bergen, said there are 11 serviced lots in the industrial subdivision, and Champion’s new fire hall — which is nearing completion — is also in that subdivision. Champion does have a few other commercial lots available, he added.

Later during council’s May 3 meeting, council carried the final two readings of the rezoning bylaw.